Helen was at the home of her mom and dad listening to the radio when the news report come over the airwaves saying the war was over. Our servicemen were now going in to occupy Japan starting at Tokyo Bay. "Did you hear that momma? Willie's coming home!" Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks as she realized that her husband and the father of her two children would finally be coming home. Her joy turned to anger when her dad said, "Willie will come home a drunk!" She looked him square in the eye and told him "No he won't!" Oh my gosh, she was so angry at him for saying that...she ran outside of the house as she told Larry and Sondra that it was time to go home. They went to the apartment up the road where soon Willie would be by her side again. She put the kids down early for the night needing time to just calm down and get some rest. As she sat at her kitchen table writing down her thoughts, she realized the most important thing was NOT what her dad had said but that her brave sailor was headed home. How long that would take, she didn't know.... hopefully she would be with her husband in a few weeks. As she went to sleep that night, she felt as if the weight of the world was lifted off of her shoulders. Helen woke up early with a sense that everything was right with the world. She still would get aggravated when she thought back to what her daddy had told her just yesterday. He said that Willie would come home from the service a drunk...all Helen could say to him was, "No he won't...I know my Willie, he won't come home a drunk!" Just because he had been in the service and most service men were drinkers...didn't mean that Willie would come home and be like him. She loved her dad, but just didn't like him very much right now. As I said in previous writings, Roy Rhodes is what you would call a weekend drinker. He stayed sober through most of the week, but when the weekend came, you hardly saw him that he wasn't drunk as a skunk! Helen had learned this about her dad early on as a child growing up, and also learned he could be so mean with his words. He was equally hard on all the kids, they all had learned when to stay clear of their dad! Roy was so hard on the family and expected all the kids to do their part on the farm, Eunice had to do her part too. Her biggest responsibility had always been to take care of this big family. First off, she made sure they all had plenty to eat. Every morning there was a big breakfast waiting for them when they headed to the table. She knew they needed a good breakfast to get them started in the mornings, whether they were working on the farm or headed to school. Eunice would wake up before everyone else and start breakfast...no cold cereal on her breakfast table (unless it was oatmeal). No, it was always a big meal - something that would stick to their ribs. If you went away from her table still hungry...then it was your fault. While the family was gobbling up her wonderful breakfast, she was starting the next meal...peeling potatoes, cutting up a chicken, cutting out dumplings or whatever preparation was needed. In the afternoon, before the kids got home from school, she would bake a big pan of baked sweet potatoes. Helen recalls with fondness coming home to a house full of the aroma of fresh baked sweet potatoes. They were "seasoned" baked potatoes (meaning they were full of flavor) What an awesome afternoon snack! The peeling would just slide right off and were sooo tasty! Nothing like it! Eunice would also make sure that they had clean clothes to wear. Doing the laundry was no easy chore either....there was a lot of scrubbing before you put them in to wash...and of course, she was usually either nursing a baby or chasing after one. The older girls helped their mom in the kitchen and with the laundry, that's how they learned to be good cooks. Being a part of the Rhodes family had prepared Helen to be the strong individual she is. She had determined in her heart that she was going to raise her children differently than her dad. There had been so many "whoopins" that were unnecessary. She knew that she would have to be strict...but the biggest difference would be the daddy of her children. He has a kind heart and would NOT be a drunk! Of course, she did have to use a tree switch on occasion to correct Larry and Sondra....we'll hear about a couple of those occasions tomorrow! Comments Your comment will be posted after it is approved. Leave a Reply |  Author
Paula Tollison Andrews Maupin I am married to Bobby and live in the Nashville, TN area, working as Executive Assistant to both the Director of Sales and General Manager of FOX17, MyTV30 & CW58 television I have 3 wonderful sons and daughters in
love (Brad & Holly Andrews, Bryan & Stacy Andrews and Brandon
& Ashley Andrews) from Tulsa, St. Louis & Springfield
respectively. They have given me 9 precious grandbabies. (Joseph,
Cooper, Margo, Sloan, Jonas, Nora, Everett, Lawson and Blythe & Gma
loves them so much) I also have 2 great stepsons and daughter in love
(Jonathan & Kathryn Maupin and William Maupin) from Lexington,
Kentucky.
As a lady who's lived through both good & bad circumstances in my life, I've learned and continue to learn a lot of "life lessons". Along the way I have been inspired to be a better me. God is faithful in ALL circumstances and His love covers all. My hope is that you will be inspired to be who you were meant to be. I have been writing this blog about my mom and dad since September of 2011. You can find their story from the beginning by going to the Stories link. Happy Reading!!!   ArchivesMarch 2012 |
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